Region report: Region II.
Know Your VPConnie Smithson is serving the first year of a three-year term as ACTE Region II vice president. Raised in Tennessee and proud of her southern roots, she enjoys working with other career and technical education professionals of Reigon II, including Alabama, the Bahamas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and the Virgin Islands. Smithson serves on the ACTE Subcommittee on Program Improvement and Policy Development, Elections Ad Hoc Committee and is the board liaison to the Awards Committee. Serving as conference program chair for the regions, she is working with other region vice presidents to develop exciting "Best Practices" roundtables for the State Association Leadership Meeting in Las Vegas. Smithson has served the Tennessee Association for Career and Technical Education as FACS Division representative, secretary, Region II representative and president.
Smithson holds a B.S. in vocational home economics education from Tennessee Technological University and an M.S. in vocational technical education from the University of Tennessee. She has been active in career and technical education for more than two decades--first in adult education programs and then as a family and consumer sciences teacher. Currently employed by the Hamilton County School System in Chattanooga, Tenn., Smithson teaches family and consumer sciences at Hixson High School. Her passion for community service projects led her to develop a service-learning curriculum and program that have received local, state and national recognition. She has been awarded numerous grants from Quest International and the Tennessee Commission on National and Community Service. In 1998, Smithson was named the ACTE Teacher of the Year and a Master Service-Learning Teacher by the Tennessee Commission on National and Community Service. One of her favorite roles is serving as a master FCCLA advisor and district FCCLA STAR events coordinator. "Encouraging my students to become involved in the leadership development and service opportunities available through FCCLA is absolutely the most rewarding teaching experience," remarks Smithson. She has also developed an extensive leadership development course that is in its fifth year of implementation at Hixson High. In her spare time, Smithson serves as a service-learning consultant to school systems in Tennessee and Georgia.
Smithson's motto, "So much to learn, such little time," hangs front and center in her classroom. Teaching students to make the most of every moment is an important part of her classroom strategy. Preparing youth to become productive citizens, workers and family members is the ultimate goal and one that Smithson strives daily to achieve!
Region II Happenings Region II Professional Development Conference 2002 "Catch the Wave of the Future" October 17-20, 2002 Hilton Riverside Historic Wilmington Waterfront, N.C.
This professional development conference is the premier forum for all career and technical education practitioners in the Southeast. Come "surf" into exciting sessions on leadership, legislation, national teaching standards, parliamentary procedure and a special Carl Perkins Town Meeting!
Hotel: Hilton Riverside 301 North Water Street Wilmington, N.C. 28401 (910) 763-5900 Room Rate: $115/night Registration Pre-registration by Sept. 20: $130 Onsite Registration: $170 One-Day Pre-registration: $90 One-Day Onsite Registration: $130 Contact: Ruth Huff, Conference Chair J. F. Webb High School 3200 Webb School Road Oxford, N.C. 27565 (919) 693-2521 (919) 693-2589 (fax) ruffhuff@hotmail.com
Region II Winners Shine!
2001 ACTE Region II Awards
* Career and Technical Teacher of the Year Brenda Oldfield, Kentucky
* Outstanding New Career and Technical Teacher Deborah Lynn Beam, North Carolina
* Outstanding Career and Technical Educator Dr. Brenda D. Long, Virginia
2001 ACTE Awards
* ACTE-McDonald's Outstanding Teacher in Community Service--Sarah E. Raikes, Kentucky
* Carl Perkins Humanitarian Award Donnalie Stratton, Kentucky
* Outstanding Service Award Dr. Sandra Miller, Kentucky; F. Wendell Latham, Virginia
* Award of Merit--White Lily Flour Company, Tennessee
* Awards for Excellence-Automotive Training Postsecondary, nonmanufacturer-affiliated Trident Technical College, South Carolina
Region II Policy Committee Members 2002-2003
Lee Bain, Alabama; Celestine Williams, Bahamas; Pat Miles, Florida; Dr. Sally Combs, Georgia; Sherry Baber, Kentucky; Ruth Huff, North Carolina; Enoch Gonzalez, Puerto Rico; Joe Dowling, South Carolina; John Cagle, Tennessee; and Ben Helmandollar, Virginia.
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| Publication: | Techniques |
|---|---|
| Article Type: | Brief Article |
| Geographic Code: | 1USA |
| Date: | May 1, 2002 |
| Words: | 665 |
| Previous Article: | Division report: Administration. |
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